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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Beginning the Gardening Adventures (2016)

Daffodils blossom at the base of a fallen snag.

It really is February still, right!? With this weather, I'd never guess! On our trip to town this week the kids were hot and stripping off layers, begging to have the windows down in the truck! We did and it felt SO lovely! "May means maybe" (may still have more snow and freezing temps) is what we were always told in AK, so this definite spring so early feels a little foreign yet!

Spring Queen

And things are blooming! Daffodils and crocuses of course, but also camellias, violets, nettles, mock cherries, and several new to me as well! So I began to think, "well, maybe I should be growing things now, too?" And, though slightly early, when I looked at a planting chart for the area (great zoning and scheduling for US here) it could already be time to plant some of the seeds I had OUTSIDE! I love it! And I love how we can get hints about the timing of planting based on the wild things growing around us!

So my trusty helpers and I got everything together and got those seeds in some rich dark dirt. Mostly according to the directions, but when your over-eager assistants are 2 and 4, the depth and spacing measurements are kinda out the window. We'll see how things go! This is my first year really trying a container garden, too! My hope is that we'll be moving to our own plot of land by the end of harvest. It may be a long stretch, but I can dream, right? =)
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It's good to coat my hands in earth again!

So once we planted and "tucked in" our seeds (for whatever reason, burying them was too traumatic, so we just tucked them in their dirt beds and bid them a nice nap! =) ) it was time to water them. Out came their water buckets and certainly washed away a section of our broccoli before it even had a chance! I quickly stopped that method and we pulled a couple milk jugs out of the recycling bin.

With a few holes hammered into the lids and filled with water, they made perfect watering cans for the little ones: a manageable size that only released a drizzle instead of a deluge of water at once! Now we wait! I can't wait to be growing our own food again!

Any hints for a new Oregon gardener wannabe? Every thing seems so simple here as a whole! I'm comparing this to my Fairbanks garden where I had to dig several feet through peat moss to the permafrost, build a frame for my garden and line the bottom with 2" insulation, fill with dirt and surround with a fence to keep the arctic hares out all while fighting the swarms of mosquitos. Then every year our neighborhood moose and her calf(s) would eat the majority before I could harvest it! SO infuriating! I've been told the deer are an issue here, and I remember the slugs; is there anything else I should be aware of? I look forward to hearing your gardening adventures!

About Me

Hi! I am a born-and-raised NW Washintonian, schooled in Oregon, became a nurse and then a mother in Alaska, and have just relocated back to Oregon where we hope to settle and raise our children (and some critters and gardens as well!) I've seen God work through me through his amazing wild world and feel honored to exist in the Creator's beautiful, natural creation. I want to allow my kids to experience this as well and learn from all natures complexities and simplicity. Adventures from the wilds of Alaska to great storybooks await! All photos are mine and copyrighted unless otherwise specified. Hope you enjoy!